Fast, safe, affordable, eco-friendly: for slightly longer distances in Lisbon, the metro is perfect.
It can’t be said often enough: the best way to explore the center of Lisbon is on foot. The metro is ideal for slightly longer distances. There are affordable day tickets, though they can be too expensive if you only need to travel a short distance from point A to point B. Get a rechargeable ticket at the machines in the station, and also use them for bus and tram.
The relatively small urban area of the Portuguese capital has about 50 metro stations, with potential expansions set for completion by the end of 2024 that will enhance its appeal for tourists as well. The network is generally quite new, the schedule is regular, the four lines are easy to navigate — and it’s far from dangerous. Many stations are also nicely designed. There are even recommendations for an art tour through the Lisbon subway.
The Lisbon metro network.
The metro makes sense if your hotel is outside the epicenter, you want to visit less hyped neighborhoods, or you simply don’t feel like walking anymore. In the city, single tickets cost €1.80 plus 50 cents for the rechargeable Navegante card, which you insert into a slot at the turnstile to enter the station. You check out the same way, with a one-hour validity. Basically, you can now also pay contactlessly — though we can’t guarantee that every card or phone will be accepted.
Find a price overview here. There are 24-hour tickets for €6.80, which is a bit of a numbers game. Combo tickets for €9.80 include the ferry to Cacilhas, while those for €10.80 include the suburban train to Sintra, Cascais, and other destinations. Whether these offers are worthwhile is a matter of vacation planning. We personally walk a lot, so single rides work better for us. Children up to three years old ride for free anyway, and there is almost always someone at the entrances and exits to open the door for the stroller. For children up to 18 years old, you technically need a personalized Navegante card for free rides, which requires showing proof of age at the ticket counter. This might be worth it for teenagers, but for younger children, it’s usually not necessary since they can just slip under the turnstile — and nobody cares in the slightest.
In spring 2024, after updating the fare zones, the ticket machines sometimes don't work as they should: there's a risk of buying worthless tickets. Therefore, please keep your receipt or go straight to the counter. Not much can go wrong; drivers and inspectors are aware of the problem. It’s nice that dogs are finally allowed on the subway.